The Birdcage (A or 4/4 stars)
A gay cabaret owner & his drag queen companion agree to play it straight for their son so he can introduce them to his fiance's ultra-conservative parents in 'The Birdcage', directed by Mike Nichols. Based on the La Cage aux Folles, this adaptation is truly one of the most hysterically funny movies I have ever seen. The story is as follows: For over 20 yrs., Armand Goldman (Robin Williams) has been with his long-time lover, Albert (Nathan Lane). Both are openly gay and living comfortably in South Beach, Florida. Armand operates a popular drag nightclub (The Birdcage) where Albert is the headline performer - Starina. Armand has a son, Val (Dan Futterman), the product of a heterosexual fling he had 20 yrs. ago with one, Katherine Archer (Christine Baranski), an executive who never really wanted anything to do with him. Val - raised by his dad & Albert - has always loved & accepted them equally; not ashamed of his family situation.
However, all that changes when Val flies down to Florida & announces his engagement to Barbara (Calista Flockhart) the 18 yr. old daughter of Senator Kevin Keeley (Gene Hackman), co-founder of the Coalition for Moral Order, & his loving, but dowdy wife, Louise (Dianne Wiest). Obviously, someone as right-wing & as high profile as Sen. Keeley would never approve of a marriage btwn. his teen daughter & the son of a gay couple. Desperate, Val pleads with his dad to have the Keeleys over for dinner, pretend to be straight, and ask Albert to kindly disappear; if only for this one evening. But Albert, sensitive as he is, refuses to be stuffed away. What tricks does he have up his sleeve? What will they do with their overly flamboyant male maid, Agador (Hank Azaria)? And how will they transform their gaudy, pastel-tinged apartment into something more accessible for the visit? What ensues, as one can only expect, is an uproarious disaster.
By taking the already humorous 1978 French farce, La Cage aux Folles & Americanizing it, Mike Nichols has come up with a fresh, new take on the socio-political ramifications of the plot and created something downright hysterical. I mean, over the course of 112 minutes, I was literally bent over in side-splitting laughter; and the humor comes on, if not constantly, then only with 2 minutes of breathing time in between the absurdly funny one-liners/situations. The added bonus of the film (when you can actually stop, breath, & collect yourself) is realizing that the film, while funny, also sends out a message: as sung in the closing number, "We Are Family". The main characters in this particular film may liberal or conservative, gay or straight, but they're still loving, caring, nurturing, & accepting individuals. With time, the Keeleys, whether they want to or not, will feel the same way. Tolerance is needed, it may not always be comfortable or easy ... but that's family.
The performances are ones for the ages. The script is funny enough, but the actors really bring the written words to life. Robin Williams, normally over-the-top, is given the straighter of the 2 gay roles; ingenious, really. I don't think most audiences could have abided him in the showy Albert role. As Armand, Williams is just superb; nailing every quick-witted remark & appropriate facial expression. He even shows his serious side (a sobering quote about finally not giving a damn about what others think). Nathan Lane is wonderful as the self-conscious, effeminate Albert; the epitome of a 'screaming queen'. One of my favorite sequences involves him trying to walk & talk 'straight', a la John Wayne. And his chemistry with Williams' Armand is incredible. You'll remember this duo years from now.
Gene Hackman is bang-on as the straight-as-an-arrow, conservative senator; whether desperate to escape reporters regarding a recent scandal or deadpan reacting to Val's parents, he just nails it. Dianne Wiest, Calista Flockhart, Dan Futterman, & Christina Baranski all have some biting moments. And Hank Azaria, as Armand & Albert's flaming, cross-dressing Guatemalan man maid (house boy) is quite the scene-stealer. Speaking of scenes, they're all fantastic. The writing can't be better. The production design of the movie (stage, apartment) is wonderfully gaudy. The costume & make-up work is suitably colorful. The musical score is light & fun. I can just go on & on about how much I loved this movie. Instead, I'll just leave you with a small sampling of some of my favorite quotes ...
Albert: He blew a bubble with his gum while I was singing. He can't do that while I'm SINGING! Character: Chewing gum helps me think. Albert: Sweetie, you're wasting your gum.
Armand tries to inspire a dancer on his stage: You do an eclectic celebration of a dance. You do Fosse, Fosse, Fosse! You do Martha Graham, Martha Graham, Martha Graham! Or Twyla, Twyla, Twyla! Or Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd! Or Madonna, Madonna, Madonna! ... But you keep it all inside.
Sen. Keeley: Louise, people in this country aren't interested in details. They only thing they trust is headlines.
Agador: Armand, why don't you let me be in the show? Are you afraid of my Guatemalan-ness? My natural heat? You're afraid I'm too primitive to be on stage with your little estrogen Rockettes, right? Armand: You're right, I'm afraid of your heat. - Haha, good times.
However, all that changes when Val flies down to Florida & announces his engagement to Barbara (Calista Flockhart) the 18 yr. old daughter of Senator Kevin Keeley (Gene Hackman), co-founder of the Coalition for Moral Order, & his loving, but dowdy wife, Louise (Dianne Wiest). Obviously, someone as right-wing & as high profile as Sen. Keeley would never approve of a marriage btwn. his teen daughter & the son of a gay couple. Desperate, Val pleads with his dad to have the Keeleys over for dinner, pretend to be straight, and ask Albert to kindly disappear; if only for this one evening. But Albert, sensitive as he is, refuses to be stuffed away. What tricks does he have up his sleeve? What will they do with their overly flamboyant male maid, Agador (Hank Azaria)? And how will they transform their gaudy, pastel-tinged apartment into something more accessible for the visit? What ensues, as one can only expect, is an uproarious disaster.
By taking the already humorous 1978 French farce, La Cage aux Folles & Americanizing it, Mike Nichols has come up with a fresh, new take on the socio-political ramifications of the plot and created something downright hysterical. I mean, over the course of 112 minutes, I was literally bent over in side-splitting laughter; and the humor comes on, if not constantly, then only with 2 minutes of breathing time in between the absurdly funny one-liners/situations. The added bonus of the film (when you can actually stop, breath, & collect yourself) is realizing that the film, while funny, also sends out a message: as sung in the closing number, "We Are Family". The main characters in this particular film may liberal or conservative, gay or straight, but they're still loving, caring, nurturing, & accepting individuals. With time, the Keeleys, whether they want to or not, will feel the same way. Tolerance is needed, it may not always be comfortable or easy ... but that's family.
The performances are ones for the ages. The script is funny enough, but the actors really bring the written words to life. Robin Williams, normally over-the-top, is given the straighter of the 2 gay roles; ingenious, really. I don't think most audiences could have abided him in the showy Albert role. As Armand, Williams is just superb; nailing every quick-witted remark & appropriate facial expression. He even shows his serious side (a sobering quote about finally not giving a damn about what others think). Nathan Lane is wonderful as the self-conscious, effeminate Albert; the epitome of a 'screaming queen'. One of my favorite sequences involves him trying to walk & talk 'straight', a la John Wayne. And his chemistry with Williams' Armand is incredible. You'll remember this duo years from now.
Gene Hackman is bang-on as the straight-as-an-arrow, conservative senator; whether desperate to escape reporters regarding a recent scandal or deadpan reacting to Val's parents, he just nails it. Dianne Wiest, Calista Flockhart, Dan Futterman, & Christina Baranski all have some biting moments. And Hank Azaria, as Armand & Albert's flaming, cross-dressing Guatemalan man maid (house boy) is quite the scene-stealer. Speaking of scenes, they're all fantastic. The writing can't be better. The production design of the movie (stage, apartment) is wonderfully gaudy. The costume & make-up work is suitably colorful. The musical score is light & fun. I can just go on & on about how much I loved this movie. Instead, I'll just leave you with a small sampling of some of my favorite quotes ...
Albert: He blew a bubble with his gum while I was singing. He can't do that while I'm SINGING! Character: Chewing gum helps me think. Albert: Sweetie, you're wasting your gum.
Armand tries to inspire a dancer on his stage: You do an eclectic celebration of a dance. You do Fosse, Fosse, Fosse! You do Martha Graham, Martha Graham, Martha Graham! Or Twyla, Twyla, Twyla! Or Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd! Or Madonna, Madonna, Madonna! ... But you keep it all inside.
Sen. Keeley: Louise, people in this country aren't interested in details. They only thing they trust is headlines.
Agador: Armand, why don't you let me be in the show? Are you afraid of my Guatemalan-ness? My natural heat? You're afraid I'm too primitive to be on stage with your little estrogen Rockettes, right? Armand: You're right, I'm afraid of your heat. - Haha, good times.